(Everly)--A large, contiguous piece of high-quality farmland in northwest Iowa sold recently sold at auction for an average $13,677 per acre, drawing bidders from inside and outside the state.

Patrick Lentz of High Point Land Company told Successful Farming the nearly 310-acre farm, divided into three connected tracts, is located in Clay County near Everly. The farm’s highly rated soils and long, straight field layout made it attractive to a wide range of buyers.

Successful Farming says 23 registered bidders participated in the auction, including local farmers and out-of-state investors. In the end, however, a regional farmer purchased all three tracts. Lentz said bidding remained competitive through the close of the auction.

The three tracts of the 309.81-acre farm sold for $14,300, $14,900, and $11,100 per acre, respectively, generating a total sale price of $4,237,000.